BEIJING: Four young Tibetans have set fire to themselves in restive areas of China while hundreds of students protested against the government, exiles and rights groups say.

The self-immolations were the latest of at least 20 similar protests this month and more than 80 over the past two years.

Kunchok Tsering, 18, died after he set fire to himself in Xiahe, or Labrang, county in the western province of Gansu, the London group Free Tibet said.

The Tibetan Buddhist nun Sangye Dolma, 17, also died after a self-immolation in Duohemao, or Dorkarmo, township in the neighbouring province of Qinghai, the group said.

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A former monk, Wang Gyal, 20, set fire to himself in Seda, or Serthar, county in Sichuan province, Radio Free Asia said. A Tibetan man, Gonpo Tsering, 24, also died after self-immolating on Monday in Gansu's Luqu, or Luchu, county, it said.

Hundreds of students from a medical college also marched through the centre of Qinghai's Gonghe, or Chabcha, county on Monday. About 20 students were injured in clashes with police, several exile groups reported.

The protests erupted after authorities demanded students complete a 10-part questionnaire linked to a ''patriotic education'' campaign, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported.